Tire-protector.



S. W. FUNK.

TIRE PROTECTOR. VAIPLIOATION FILED NOV. 27,1911.

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Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL W. FUNK, OF CHARTER OAK, CALIFORNIA.

TIRE-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 27, 1911. Serial No. 662,762.

following is a specification.

This invention relates to tire protectors for use-on pneumatic or otherresilient tires,

and the main object of the invention is to provide a protector for. thispurpose in which the tread portion is divided transversely of the tireso as to provide for'flexibility of the tread portion, transversely aswell as circumferentially of the tire.

The invention relates particularlyto tire protectors in which a seriesof chains are placed transversely about the tire and in this connection,one object of the invention is to provide for connecting said series ofchains together.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide means for detachableconnection of the several members of each transverse chain with oneanother and of each transverse chain to the adjoining transverse chains.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, and referringthereto: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a tire withthe'protector in place thereon. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of thetire and protector. Fig. 3 is a plan view of part of one transversechain or element of the protector. Fig.

i 4 is a transverse section of said chain. Fig.

5 is a transyerse section ofa different form of the chain- Fig. 6 is avertical section of one of the chain .members shown in Fig. 5, inprocess of manufacture. F1g. 7 is a side elevation oftwo adj oiningchain members, showing the position in w ich they are placed inassembling or separating them.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the protector -1S composed of a series ofchains of identical construction, each of said 'chams being adapted tobe wrapped over the tire and extend from the rim atone side over thetire to the rim at the other side, and tobe fastened to the rim at eachend. .Eachof said chains comprises a series of links or mem-' bersconnected in such manner as to permit free flexibility of the chain ofmembers, and also in such manner as to permit of detachment of theseveral members of the chain when the same is removed from the t1re, but

to interlock firmly when thechain is in place Patented J an. 14, 1913.

on the tire. The members of each chain are preferably disposedsymmetrically in regard to a central chain member, said central chainmember consisting, for example, of a link -1 having a hook 2 at each endand provided wit-h a raised or upwardly extendingtreadportion 4 betweenthe hooks .2 and with a re- 10 of the several hooks of the links are ofsuch size that the bar 8 en agin therewith is interlocked with the hooancannot be disengaged except'by turnin the links to a certain angularposltion, as ereinafter set forth. Each of the side links 6 is providedwith an upwardly extending or raised tread central member 1. Theopenings or notches portion 13, the severaltread portions 4E and.

13 forming the-bearing surface for the protector, Beyond the severalside links 6, the chain is provided with a series of side links 14 eachof which is provided at its inner end withv a bar 15 and at its outerend with a hook 16 for engaging with the bar of the next link, anda'terminal link 18 is provided having a bar 19 at its inner end forengagement with the hook 16 of the last connecting link and having ahook 20 *at its'eouter end forengaging under the flange 21 of theclencher rim 22 as shown in Fig. 2. The

several side links 6 and the several attaching:

links 14 are formed so as to interlock securly when in position on thetire even if the tire is deflated, the side bars 24: of the severallinks embracing the hooks 7 or 16 so as to prevent lateral movement, butbeing cut away asat 25 so that when "the links are turned'to position'asshown at Fig. 7 the bar of a link may be slid, endwise from the hook ofthe next link.

Means are provided for connecting each chain to the adjoining chain ateach side.

For this purpose one of the sidelinks l4 may be provided with roundedside bars 24 th which engage a'hook portion 27 on a co nect-ing link-28,said connect ng link being provided with book portions 27 ateach end forengaging with the side bars 24 of adjoining chains to connect'thechainstogether. The hook portions 27 are formed so as to embrace theside bars 2 1 on both sides, leaving an intervening slot 29 ofsuflicient dimensions to enable the said connecting link 28 to be slidendwise off of the said side bars when the corresponding link 14 isdetached from the next inner link, the bar 15 at the inner end of thesaid link 14 being cut away as'at 30 to provide for passage of the outerand inner hook portions of hooks 27. f

Each of the side links 6 is provided with a recess '34 on its underface, the recesses 34 serving not only to lighten the several links butto provide for more secure engagement with thepneumatic tire by reason vof the protrusion;-.-of"the material of the tire into-said recesses"under the pneumatic pressure withinthetire. The connecting links 14 areof different lengths and are detachable and interchangeable, so that-byusing different lengths of links, different be of different lengths forthe same reason.

"The, operationof the form of invention above described is as follows:The chains j are placed over the tire side by side, each the connectinglinks 28, it being understood sizes of tires can be fitted bydealersfsothat the chains will fit the tire accurately and tightly whensaid tire is inflated with air.

The links 27 connectingthe chains may also chain being connected to thenextcha'in by that the connection must be made in a particular order,since when all the links are connected they mutually interlock 'andjitis necessary to connect each link to a precede ing link in such manneras to permit of connection to the next link, each link be ingconnected-by placing the links'in' positi'on shown in Fig. 7 vand.slidingjvthe bars'. endwise into the hooks. Theflconiplete sys temof chains foi'me'din thispmanrieifl-is" placed over the tire with theho'qksge'o' on the terminal links under-the flange o'f'the it stretchesthe chains so that theybecome tight on the tire, the proportions beingpreferably such that the tire is forced into the recess of the links asabove set forth.

' As-shown in'Fig. 6 each of the'links form- I ing the treadfportion ofthe chain may be provided with a detachable shoe or wearing plate 36attached to the link 37 by a projection 38 on said link extendingthrough a perforation 39 in said plate and riveted down or upset, theperforation 39 being countersunk to enable the plate to be held on untilit is worn out. In this form of the invention the several linksconstituting the bearing portion need not be made detachable, as theparts subject to wear canbe detached therefrom.

What I claim is 1. In combination with a wheel having .a clencher rimand a pneumatic tire on said rim, a tire protector comprising aplurality of chains extending transversely over the tire, each chaincomprising a plurality of tread links and a plurality of side links ateachside of the tread links, the tread links being disconnected from thetread links of adjacent -chain's to'allow of their free relative radialmovement, the end links of the chains being provided with hooks adaptedto engage theflanges ofthe clencher rim,

and 'a link connecting one side link of each chain-to the -correspondingside link of the adjoining chain at each side thereof.

"2. Attire protector comprising a plurality of chains extendingtransversely of the tire, a link connecting one link at eachside of eachchain to a-corresponding link in an adjoining chain, the side linksbeing provided with hooks and bars interengaging and interlocking whenthe links are in normal position on the tire and the said connectinglinks having hooks engaging side portions of the said links andinterlocking with the side links when in normal position on the tire;said side links being cut away in their end portions and their sideportions sons to permit the side links to be detached from one anotherand the connecting links to be detached from the side links when thesaid] links are turned out of normal position. clencher rim, and whenthe tire is inflated In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my handat Los Angeles, California, this l8thday of November, 1911.

' SAMUEL W. FUNK.

In presence of A.'P. KNIGHT,

GLAnYs RUSSELL.

Copies of this ast be obtained for five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner of latents,

Washington, D. C."

